Bonded takes family connection to a horrifying level with an atmospheric, haunting movie.
Bonded, playing at Screamfest, is a supernatural horror film with religious zealotry tied in, building an entertaining, if at times formulaic, movie with strong performances and well-timed scares. The fact that only two characters carry the majority of the film is not an easy job, but it starts promising and gets creepy. Some decisions feel forced to propel the plot, but the entertainment never dims. Bonded takes family connection to a horrifying level with an atmospheric, haunting movie.
John Mathis (Un susurro invocó mi nombre, Midnight Runner) writes and directs this horror flick about two sisters returning to their Argentinian home after their parents’ deaths when their past comes to the fore, endangering them both. The cast is minimal, with the focus being the two sisters. Dana, played by Bianca Mitnik (Un susurro invocó mi nombre, La Zurda), is a young adult stuck in her teenage rebellious phase. Meanwhile, her estranged elder sister, Luján, played by Clara Kovacic (Violeta Rauch, El llanto del perro), resides in the United States with her kids and husband, Gonzalo, played by Pablo Bobadilla. While Gonzalo pops up at the oddest times, the main focus is Luján and Dana, but the film starts with their parents.
Bonded Builds an Eerie Film
The film starts in a similar vein to other horror films, introducing a supernatural horror that paves the way for the movie’s events. Its effectiveness at tension-building leaves you wondering what the hell is next. As an older man and woman, the sister’s parents, going about their day. Bonded employs silence as an effective tool, as there is no conversation. But as the mother’s eyes turn milky later, it becomes clear that something supernatural played a role in this tragedy. It sets up what’s coming and keeps viewers interested.
Believable Siblings Thanks to the Cast
While it is initially annoying how contrarian Dana’s choices and actions are, it fits their relationship. After all, they have not been together since they were young. Lupán, given she remembers their parents, seems one panic attack away from hospitalization. As they arrive to settle their family’s estate, much of the past remains obscured, creating confusion. Still, they seem like sisters. The older sister uses her “mom” voice on her sister, Dana. Meanwhile, Dana—despite her assertions that she is an adult—behaves like a kid poking a sculpture in a museum because of the “Do Not Touch” sign. Bonded ensures it’s a believable sibling pair at the center of its film.
Both actresses are wonderful. However, Clara Kovacic’s performance is a cut above. Her smiles are spine-chilling and bring to mind horrific smiles like the one Karen Black’s possessed character gave in the “Amelia” tale in Trilogy of Terror. Or the nightmare-fuel smile or grimace on both ladies’ faces in the story in another anthology movie, Black Sabbath. It’s the kind that doesn’t fade after the film ends.
Choices Are Plot-Driven Rather Than Character-Driven
While some behavior is compatible with the characters, other actions make little sense within the story. Dana’s choices lack reasoning at times, shifting the frustration from her to the plot. Another question-mark action is Lupán’s husband arriving in the middle of the night. When things happen with no explanation or justification, it creates a confounding layer to a film that makes parts feel disjointed. Even Lupán watching old tapes, showing some of her parents’ religious cult, feels illogical given everything. Yet, at the same time, not much explains the deep-seated trauma she harbors. Despite that, the core performances in Bonded keep you creeped out and engaged.
Bonded, despite some unexplained plot choices, maintains a downright unnerving momentum. The woodsy person also gave recollections of the terrifying one in Oddity. Despite some frustrations, you care what happens to the sisters, especially mother to little ones Lupán. Some questions go unanswered, and some actions have no purpose beyond their essentialness to move the movie forward. But it remains a fun time with unforgettable moments of fright and dread. Bonded won’t bring a smile to the face—thankfully—as it prefers to bring a chill down the spine with its familial, religious, folk horror.
